The historic Old Fort at the entrance to Shoreham Port is to host a Military History Day on Sunday May 9th. Open to all members of the public between 11:00am - 4:00pm, the day will feature displays of cannon, musket and rifle firing by The Fort Cumberland Guard, a historic military re-enactment society. The Guard will parade around the Fort between the cannon firings in full mid-Victorian military regalia, replicating scenes that must have taken place on many occasions when the Fort was newly built in the mid-eighteen hundreds. The Paul Early Military Drums group will also attend, playing drum beats from the same period and adding to the nineteenth century military atmosphere on the day.
The displays have been arranged by Gary Baines' Friends of Shoreham Fort Society, Shoreham Port's partners in the management and restoration of the Ancient Monument. Gary's society have been labouring away at the Fort alongside Port staff to improve the appearance and preserve the fabric of the Fort and hope to raise funds on the day to help support their restoration activities.
The Fort is of great historical importance as one of the celebrated 'Palmerston's Follies', south coast defences which were built under the direction of the great Victorian Prime Minister to counter a perceived threat from the French Emperor Napoleon III. Shoreham Port Engineer, Tony Parker said "The Port and Friends of Shoreham Fort are working hard together to underpin the Fort's future and, along with English Heritage, we all hope that Sunday 9th will mark the start of a step change improvement in the condition of the Fort as a monument and much-loved visitor attraction".
If you would like more information on the history of the Old Fort then, please click on the link
Shoreham.Fort